Almost every person at some point in his life thought about getting a tattoo. A beautiful picture on the body can be a worthy decoration. But what if the “eternal” tattoo is not at all what you need? There is an answer to this question, because now temporary henna tattoos are in great fashion. They are painted always and everywhere, using stencils and the hands of real artists. The appearance of a temporary tattoo can be anything and most importantly, after a month the skin will be clean and you can start new designs, decorating your body with exquisite patterns. The most popular places for tattooing are the back of the hand, palm, raising the legs and feet. It remains to figure out how to make a temporary tattoo at home.
What is mehendi?
Temporary tattoos are called mehendi. If we turn to history, such drawings of henna on the body are far from a new trend, but ancient Indian art. Girls and women resorted to similar ornaments of their bodies in ancient Egypt, India, and Persia. For each state, mehendi had its own significance, for example, in Persia, the dancers applied patterns on their hands to look more effective during the dance. But in India, henna tattoos were a sign of wealth, because it was virtually impossible for an ordinary person to get a natural dye. According to historical data, the first temporary tattoos were found on the body of mummies, which are more than five thousand years old. Impressive, isn't it?
Traditions
Decorating mehendi girls hands was taken at the wedding. There was even a sign that the longer the drawing is held on the bride’s body, the longer and happier the newly made husband and wife will live. For wedding preparation, only red henna was always used. Traditions do not end there. There was another pleasant custom: a young wife should not do any homework until at least the slightest features of the picture were erased from the body.
In addition to dancing and weddings, henna tattoos were applied to the body as a protection against evil spirits and the evil eye. In addition to mystical beliefs, it was believed that mehendi saves the body from heat by cooling it, and is a strong antiseptic that disinfects the skin. Tradition did not pass by and some Slavic peoples.
Are such drawings safe?
The most frequently asked question among those who want to get a temporary tattoo is whether there will be an allergic reaction to henna or basma. However, experts assure that the drawings with these dyes are the most harmless and safe for health. This is because the main constituents of henna and basma are natural hypoallergens. In addition to the obvious safety of the drawings, natural paints also have a healing effect and help fight against such misfortunes as psoriasis and other skin diseases. The only ingredients that may cause concern are the oils of orange, lemon or other citrus fruits. But without these components, nowhere - because they make the color of the dyes more saturated and allow you to adjust the brightness of a temporary tattoo. Mehendi have no age restrictions and are suitable for both adults and children. And in tandem with oriental accessories, beautiful manicure and Indian make-up - all this looks very stylish and unusual. The very thing is to dilute gray boring everyday life.
Such a pattern will not show off on the body all its life and it will not have to be output by laser when it is completely bored. In a month, you can say goodbye to the drawings and start applying new ones. The difference between a mehendi and a permanent tattoo is that the dye, in this case henna or basma, is applied not under the skin, but on the surface. It remains only to answer the question of how to make a temporary tattoo at home.
What are the pros and cons?
Like any cosmetic product, such temporary tattoos have their advantages and disadvantages. The benefits can be safely attributed to the fact that after a temporary tattoo the skin condition improves, it becomes fresher and comes in tone. All this thanks to the nutritional components that make up the dyes. If you believe the reviews, temporary tattoos can be applied to any part of the body, because they are harmless. The application is not accompanied by pain, unlike conventional tattoos, moreover, the technique of applying henna can even replace a massage session. Tattoos are not felt on the skin, and you can create them yourself, having certain skills in drawing.
The next point, which many attribute to both advantages and disadvantages - henna drawings are short-lived. Depending on the quality of the henna, tattoos can remain on the body from a week to a month.
What are temporary tattoos?
Mehendi (translated from Hindi henna) - a special powder, which is made from the leaves of the hina tree. Such a tree grows only in arid regions. After the hina leaves are collected, they are crushed to a powder state. Initially, such a powder was used as a healing agent. Natural antiseptic, which was famous for its excellent antipyretic and analgesic properties.
How to make a temporary tattoo at home
At first glance, the technique of henna tattoos can seem quite complicated, but even a beginner with minimal drawing skills can quite cope with this task. It is not necessary to run to the salon and pay a lot of money for such a procedure. You just need to stock up on the ingredients and ask a friend who draws well. Carrying out the procedure at home is an absolutely painless and safe process. And the fragility of the patterns is not at all a minus, but even a plus. After all, they will not have time to get bored and they can be replaced with new ones at any time. And how many admiring glances from the outside!
If you have drawing skills somewhere at the kindergarten level, then do not despair. Now you can find absolutely any stencil, choose the picture you like and independently apply a temporary tattoo at home on the desired site.
Rules for applying a temporary tattoo
However, no matter how safe the procedure is, you should adhere to some rules for applying temporary henna tattoos at home.
- First, the skin needs to be prepared and cleaned. For this, you can also use improvised means, for example, make a scrub from coffee, and then degrease the desired area of the skin with alcohol.
- Before applying henna to your skin, use eucalyptus oil. Thanks to him, henna will dry more slowly, which will allow it to absorb more deeply into the skin. Such a manipulation will give a more saturated color, and henna will last a little longer.
- After the skin is prepared, we begin to apply the mixture through a stencil or draw a pattern with a special brush. Remember that henna is absorbed quickly enough, so it is recommended that you remove bad lines instantly.
- The finished drawing dries within 20 minutes. Then you need to carefully remove dried henna from the skin. Experts recommend preparing a solution of lemon juice with sugar and grease them with a temporary tattoo.
- The last and most important rule is not to wet the area of skin with a tattoo during the day.
Since mehendi is becoming more popular every year, and the technology of applying henna does not stop developing, you can turn to special pencils. However, their significant disadvantage is low resistance, such a tattoo lasts no more than three days. The pencil works like a regular felt-tip pen, so applying temporary tattoos will be several times easier. However, temporary tattoos for a month are made only from natural henna.
How to make mehendi paint
Henna-based dye is not necessary to buy in the store, you can make it yourself. If you believe the reviews, temporary henna tattoos made at home last even longer than those used for purchased henna. Making temporary henna tattoos is easier than it sounds.
In order to prepare a mixture for a temporary tattoo, you will need:
- One pack of regular henna.
- A glass of lemon juice and sugar (1 tbsp. L.).
- Any essential oil with a pleasant smell for greater enjoyment of the procedure.
- Container for mixing.
The only minus of the homemade preparation of the dye is the duration, because it will have to be cooked all day. However, the answer to the question of how to make a temporary tattoo at home is simple and clear even to a beginner. We turn to the application technique.
How to make a temporary tattoo:
- For starters, henna powder should be sieved so that the mass is completely homogeneous. Otherwise, thin lines may not work.
- Next, a tablespoon of sifted powder should be poured into the prepared container and pour a quarter cup of lemon juice. Stir to a homogeneous puree-like consistency.
- The resulting mixture should be sent in a plastic bag, which must be tightly closed and left for 12 hours in a warm place inaccessible to children.
- After 12 hours, add a spoonful of sugar and essential oil to the paste.
- After thorough mixing, one teaspoon of lemon juice should be gradually added until the paste accepts the consistency of thick sour cream.
- The mixture is again sent to a dense plastic bag and a warm place for another 12 hours before final cooking.
The mixture is ready, you can start applying the patterns.
How to care for mehendi?
In order for a temporary tattoo to please as long as possible, the following care rules must be observed:
- do not use a washcloth and scrubs in the area with a tattoo;
- Before going to the pool, taking a bath, it is recommended to lubricate the tattoo with vegetable oil;
- refuse to use razors in painted areas.
Mehendi is a great way to diversify your image, bring a little beauty and brightness to the gray everyday.